Evaluating Paraneoplastic Changes: Correlating Eosin Fluorescence Patterns and Basophilic Alterations in a DEN-Induced HCC Murine Model Through Confocal Microscopy"

Abstract

: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a major global health concern and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The study explores chemically induced murine models, specifically the use of Diethylnitrosamine, to simulate human hepatocellular carcinoma. The focus is on understanding early hepatocellular alterations and distinguishing precursor changes from incidental phenomena. Traditionally, the assessment of hepatocellular alteration foci has relied on hematoxylin and eosin staining. However, this work introduces a novel approach by utilizing the fluorescence properties of eosin, a component of the hematoxylin and eosin stain, to investigate basophilic alteration foci in a Diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma murine model. Confocal laser scanning microscopy is employed to correlate changes in fluorescence intensity with tinctorial alterations, providing insights into the paraneoplastic changes in hepatocytes. Histologically, basophilic foci exhibit distinct nodular lesions with disrupted tissue architecture and intense basophilic cytoplasm. Nuclear alterations, including hyperchromasia and basophilia, contribute to the comprehensive understanding of cellular and nuclear changes in basophilic foci. The confocal laser scanning microscopy manifestation reveals a discernible reduction in eosin fluorescence intensity within basophilic foci compared to normal hepatic tissue. Statistical analysis demonstrates a markedly elevated median intensity of eosin fluorescence in normal hepatic tissue compared to tumoral tissue and illustrates a higher standard deviation in eosin intensity within normal hepatic tissue, indicating greater variability. Normal hepatic tissue exhibits a superior maximum intensity of eosin, suggesting a broader span of intensity values compared to tumoral tissue. These findings underscore the potential diagnostic utility of confocal laser scanning microscopy in toxicology pathology, establishing a link between tinctorial changes of basophilic foci and their fluorescence spectral shifts. This approach may contribute to a more nuanced understanding of early hepatocellular alterations and facilitate the identification of precursors to carcinomas in chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma models.

Keywords

• hepatocellular carcinoma
• animal model
• basophilic foci
• histology
• eosin
• confocal microscopy